TEXAS, USA — The U.S. Drug Administration is ready to move marijuana to a different classification, to a group that is considered to be less of a dangerous drug and more like medicine.
For more than 50 years, marijuana has been listed among the world's most dangerous drugs. It has been classified as a Schedule I, alongside heroin or ecstasy. The proposal that is under consideration is to change marijuana to a Schedule III drug, like tylenol with codeine, and anabolic steroids.
Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), described the announcement of reclassification as interesting, symbolic and validating. You can watch the entire interview with him at the video embedded below.
"Until this week, we have never had an official proclamation from the federal government, or from these agencies in particular, that marijuana was a medicine," Armentano said. "Here the federal government now affirms what the general public has known for quite some time."
Armentano told 6 News that this isn't the first time the agencies have considered reclassifying marijuana and that there's been five prior reclassification. Although, he feels this go around is different in the aspect that he feels like the process is being "fast-tracked" and it makes him feel hopeful for approval.
"There are still a number of different hurdles that are going to have to be navigated going forward and it's very possible it may be months or even years until this issue is finally resolved," Armentano added. "I am hopeful that the way we talk about marijuana and think about marijuana and ultimately how we legislate about marijuana is going to change for the better starting today."
Not everyone is on the same page as Armentano, including Congressman Pete Sessions -- who represents some of the Central Texas area. He released a statement that said in part:
“I cannot be more disappointed in the Biden Administration’s complete disregard for the science and public safety concerns behind marijuana declassification,” said Congressman Pete Sessions. “There is no evidence that conclusively proves that marijuana improves mental health, in fact the opposite is true. Many marijuana and high-potency THC products have not undergone FDA approval and contain harmful heavy metals, harsh solvents, and dangerous chemicals, posing a serious health risk.”
Armentano said patience is going to be needed in the process of reclassifying marijuana and it's also going to be a battle with those who are opposed to marijuana. He still believes this is a start to "a serious shift" in how the United States sees cannabis.
"It is going to be very difficult going forward for our political opponents and those wedded to cannabis prohibition to make many of the same arguments they've made historically," Armentano said. "It's going to be very difficult to claim that there's no legitimacy to medical marijuana when the United States Food and Drug Administration says there is."
With a historic move and decision on the forefront, we asked Armentano what the impact would be to Texas. He said not very much unless there is change at the state level too.
"Changes made at the federal level like these are not going to change the current marijuana laws in Texas or the penalties associated with marijuana use in Texas, or people who have criminal convictions or are currently incarcerated for marijuana in Texas, he added. "It just doesn't work that way."
The proposal now has to be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, then go through a public comment period and lastly, it will have to be reviewed from judges.